Italian Serie A giants Inter Milan signed an exclusive partnership with leading Chinese portal Sina yesterday to promote its new Chinese-language website.

Under the new deal, Sina will translate Inter football for Chinese fans on Inter.sina.com.cn, including the latest club news and photos, live scores, match reports, in-depth statistics and player profiles.

Inter brand president Angelomario Moratti, son of the club's owner Massimo Moratti was in Beijing yesterday to sign the deal.

"I am happy to visit Beijing, we have lots of supports in China. So we decided to develop the club's influence in China. It is a good start from here in a long term," he said.

Inter is one of the most popular clubs among Chinese fans and the website is expected to attract more fans. To promote its new business venture, fans will have the opportunity to win a trip to Milan, have dinner with the team and watch them train.

The Inter Milan Club will regularly organize activities for Chinese football fans.

Moratti said the club wanted further develop the Chinese market.

"Over the past few years, we have received invitations for cooperation from China time and again,"

"We are sure that the strategic cooperation with Sina Internet will increase Inter Milan's influence in China, strengthen the exchanges between the Inter Milan Football Club and the local Chinese football community, and realize the objective of reaching Chinese football fans."

Moratti also had words of praise for Wang Dalei and Zhang Wenzhao, two Chinese football players who had received training at the Inter Milan last month.

"They are gifted football players with great potential. I sincerely hope there will be more Chinese players going to Milan for training."

(China Daily September 27, 2006)